Career path: Ten jobs in demand and what education is necessary

Dan Rafter

Monday

Jul 27, 2009 at 12:01 AMJul 27, 2009 at 9:09 AM

It only seems that every career is struggling right now. The nation’s unemployment rate is skyrocketing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, now’s the perfect time if you are starting your college education to see what fields are actually growing and what education you need to land them once you graduate.

It only seems that every career is struggling right now. The nation’s unemployment rate is skyrocketing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, now’s the perfect time if you are starting your college education to see what fields are actually growing and what education you need to land them once you graduate.

Here is a list of 10 careers that are doing well today.

Postsecondary Teacher: You’ll need patience and excellent communication skills if you’re interested in teaching students once they’ve left the high school level. You’ll also have to work with several different types of students: Some are earning college degrees, but many others are working toward a specific certification to improve their job prospects.
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree, and often a master’s degree or doctorate
Median salary: $56,120

Teacher Assistants: Working with children can be stressful. Those working in this field will need to demonstrate patience, communication skills and an ability to do several things at once, all to help a teacher successfully run a classroom.
Education needed: Some post-secondary education or vocational training
Median salary: $21,580

Immigration and Customs Inspectors: As more people move to this country, the demand for immigration inspectors continues to rise. Those who are successful in this career have an eye for detail and knowledge of other cultures.
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
Median salary: $59,930

Power plant operators: Energy-related jobs are expected to be in high demand as the United States struggles in the coming years to lessen its dependence on foreign oil. As part of this movement, power plant operators will be in high demand. Attention to detail and an ability to understand sometimes complicated machinery are important for this job.
Education needed: On-the-job training is key, along with vocational training
Median salary: $56,640

Financial advisers: People today are desperate for sound financial advice. They’re looking for safe ways to invest their money. To do this, they’re turning more often to financial advisers. To succeed in this field, you need to have an affinity for numbers. You should also have a warm and engaging personality. It is, after all, important for financial advisers to make their clients feel comfortable talking about extremely personal financial matters.
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
Median salary: $67,660

Registered nurses: Thanks to advances in medical technology, people are living longer. This means, though, that they’ll need more medical care during their lives. At the same time, many hospitals are experiencing a shortage of nurses. This makes nursing a particularly in-demand field.
Education needed: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree
Median salary: $60,010

Court reporters: Crime doesn’t stop in a recession. In fact, it might even rise. Because of this, many law-enforcement careers are in demand. Court reporters are one of these. To do well in this field, you’ll need quick typing fingers and a quick mind to understand exactly what is going on in court at all times.
Education needed: Postsecondary vocational training
Median salary: $45,330

Computer systems analysts: Technology is always growing, even when the economy isn’t. Because of that, technology-related jobs will continue to be in demand. One of the most pressing needs companies have is for computer systems analysts. Such analysts are most be good not only with computers, but with people, too. They have to communicate all those technical findings in plain English, after all.
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree
Median salary: $73,090

Medical records and health information technicians: Doctors and hospitals keep extremely detailed records of patient visits and treatments. Medical records and health information technicians are the people who make sure that patients’ medical charts are complete and that all this important information makes it into computers. To succeed at this field, you’ll need to be extremely detail oriented.
Education needed: Associate’s degree
Median salary: $29,290

Interpreters and translators: Corporations, non-profit agencies and governments are increasingly seeking business on a global scale. They’ll need interpreters and translators to do this effectively. It’s little surprise, then, that the demand for these professionals is increasing.
Education needed: Bachelor’s
Median salary: $37,490

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economy.com, Bankrate.com

BREAKOUT BOX: By the numbers:

7.6 Employed people worked an average of 7.6 hours on business days in 2008.

52 During this time, men worked about 52 minutes a day longer than did women.

21 On the days that they worked, 21 percent of employed people did some or all of their work from home.

24,000 The number of people working in healthcare increased by 24,000 in May 2009.

33.1 The average workweek for production and non-supervisory workers stood at 33.1 hours in May of 2009.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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